Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

AHCDES503 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Assess landscape sites

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCDES503 - Assess landscape sites
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out a landscape site assessment and develop recommendations.It applies to individuals who analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of advanced skilled activities and demonstrate deep knowledge in a specific technical area. They have accountability for the work of others and analyse, design and communicate solutions to a range of complex problems. All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Collect and collate initial information
  • Consult client and confirm objectives of assessment
  • Source and verify site plans and maps
  • Identify and acquire required resources
  • Prepare base plan of the site and relevant surrounds
  • Verify location, ownership and site boundaries
  • Identify and record current land use and environmental threats and problems
  • Identify and record covenants that could affect the project, design or report
  • Determine climate and weather conditions from historical data
       
Element: Undertake initial site visit
  • Meet site entry conditions and obtain approval if required
  • Identify site hazards and assess risks for current visit
  • Undertake site orientation
  • Identify and record existing on-site and adjacent site features that may impact upon the project, plan or report objectives
  • Identify, and measure and record or confirm site dimensions, levels and gradients
       
Element: Compile a site inventory
  • Identify soil and growing media types, properties and relevant physical characteristics and record on-site inventory
  • Record the species, health, age and location of vegetation
  • Locate structural elements and confirm existing services and facilities
  • Record the presence, location and extent of other relevant site constraints
  • Sample areas of homogeneous soils and growing media to send for testing and analysis of soil content and contamination as requested by client or as required in the brief provided
       
Element: Determine the impact of development for trees on site
  • Obtain the consulting arborist report to assess trees on site
  • Determine and record tree protection zones
  • Document the impact of proposed development on each tree
  • Identify trees that are exempt from approval requirements
  • Identify and locate on the site plan trees impacted by development, according to regulations applying in the local jurisdiction
  • Include trees identified by the consulting arborist report as requiring pruning or removal in a development application
       
Element: Document a site assessment report
  • Interpret soil and growing media tests results and analyse for further testing requirements
  • Record specific recommendations of remedial action for site problems
  • Formulate recommendations for appropriate risk controls of site hazards
  • Store and maintain survey and assessment data
  • Document site information
  • Incorporate all relevant data into the assessment report in accordance with client needs and the requirements of relevant legislation and regulations
  • Deliver a copy of the report to the client and advise the client of content and implications of the report
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Collect and collate initial information

1.1 Consult client and confirm objectives of assessment

1.2 Source and verify site plans and maps

1.3 Identify and acquire required resources

1.4 Prepare base plan of the site and relevant surrounds

1.5 Verify location, ownership and site boundaries

1.6 Identify and record current land use and environmental threats and problems

1.7 Identify and record covenants that could affect the project, design or report

1.8 Determine climate and weather conditions from historical data

2. Undertake initial site visit

2.1 Meet site entry conditions and obtain approval if required

2.2 Identify site hazards and assess risks for current visit

2.3 Undertake site orientation

2.4 Identify and record existing on-site and adjacent site features that may impact upon the project, plan or report objectives

2.5 Identify, and measure and record or confirm site dimensions, levels and gradients

3. Compile a site inventory

3.1 Identify soil and growing media types, properties and relevant physical characteristics and record on-site inventory

3.2 Record the species, health, age and location of vegetation

3.3 Locate structural elements and confirm existing services and facilities

3.4 Record the presence, location and extent of other relevant site constraints

3.5 Sample areas of homogeneous soils and growing media to send for testing and analysis of soil content and contamination as requested by client or as required in the brief provided

4. Determine the impact of development for trees on site

4.1 Obtain the consulting arborist report to assess trees on site

4.2 Determine and record tree protection zones

4.3 Document the impact of proposed development on each tree

4.4 Identify trees that are exempt from approval requirements

4.5 Identify and locate on the site plan trees impacted by development, according to regulations applying in the local jurisdiction

4.6 Include trees identified by the consulting arborist report as requiring pruning or removal in a development application

5. Document a site assessment report

5.1 Interpret soil and growing media tests results and analyse for further testing requirements

5.2 Record specific recommendations of remedial action for site problems

5.3 Formulate recommendations for appropriate risk controls of site hazards

5.4 Store and maintain survey and assessment data

5.5 Document site information

5.6 Incorporate all relevant data into the assessment report in accordance with client needs and the requirements of relevant legislation and regulations

5.7 Deliver a copy of the report to the client and advise the client of content and implications of the report

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

collect and collate information on site features

consult with and advise clients

document assessment and recommendations in a site plan and assessment report

identify vegetation and soils

interpret and produce plans

maintain assessment data records

sample soils and growing media

verify existing site details

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices of assessing landscape sites

current land use and environmental threats to and problems with site

interpretation of results from assessment and testing

local, state and federal regulations

measurement and surveying techniques

plant nutrition

protocols of site access

soil and growing media types, structure, texture and soil pH

soil chemical and physical properties

soil field tests and soil sampling techniques

techniques to ameliorate soil properties

vegetation common within the region, using botanical and regionally accepted common names, age, health and conditions of vegetation

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Collect and collate initial information

1.1 Consult client and confirm objectives of assessment

1.2 Source and verify site plans and maps

1.3 Identify and acquire required resources

1.4 Prepare base plan of the site and relevant surrounds

1.5 Verify location, ownership and site boundaries

1.6 Identify and record current land use and environmental threats and problems

1.7 Identify and record covenants that could affect the project, design or report

1.8 Determine climate and weather conditions from historical data

2. Undertake initial site visit

2.1 Meet site entry conditions and obtain approval if required

2.2 Identify site hazards and assess risks for current visit

2.3 Undertake site orientation

2.4 Identify and record existing on-site and adjacent site features that may impact upon the project, plan or report objectives

2.5 Identify, and measure and record or confirm site dimensions, levels and gradients

3. Compile a site inventory

3.1 Identify soil and growing media types, properties and relevant physical characteristics and record on-site inventory

3.2 Record the species, health, age and location of vegetation

3.3 Locate structural elements and confirm existing services and facilities

3.4 Record the presence, location and extent of other relevant site constraints

3.5 Sample areas of homogeneous soils and growing media to send for testing and analysis of soil content and contamination as requested by client or as required in the brief provided

4. Determine the impact of development for trees on site

4.1 Obtain the consulting arborist report to assess trees on site

4.2 Determine and record tree protection zones

4.3 Document the impact of proposed development on each tree

4.4 Identify trees that are exempt from approval requirements

4.5 Identify and locate on the site plan trees impacted by development, according to regulations applying in the local jurisdiction

4.6 Include trees identified by the consulting arborist report as requiring pruning or removal in a development application

5. Document a site assessment report

5.1 Interpret soil and growing media tests results and analyse for further testing requirements

5.2 Record specific recommendations of remedial action for site problems

5.3 Formulate recommendations for appropriate risk controls of site hazards

5.4 Store and maintain survey and assessment data

5.5 Document site information

5.6 Incorporate all relevant data into the assessment report in accordance with client needs and the requirements of relevant legislation and regulations

5.7 Deliver a copy of the report to the client and advise the client of content and implications of the report

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Consult client and confirm objectives of assessment 
Source and verify site plans and maps 
Identify and acquire required resources 
Prepare base plan of the site and relevant surrounds 
Verify location, ownership and site boundaries 
Identify and record current land use and environmental threats and problems 
Identify and record covenants that could affect the project, design or report 
Determine climate and weather conditions from historical data 
Meet site entry conditions and obtain approval if required 
Identify site hazards and assess risks for current visit 
Undertake site orientation 
Identify and record existing on-site and adjacent site features that may impact upon the project, plan or report objectives 
Identify, and measure and record or confirm site dimensions, levels and gradients 
Identify soil and growing media types, properties and relevant physical characteristics and record on-site inventory 
Record the species, health, age and location of vegetation 
Locate structural elements and confirm existing services and facilities 
Record the presence, location and extent of other relevant site constraints 
Sample areas of homogeneous soils and growing media to send for testing and analysis of soil content and contamination as requested by client or as required in the brief provided 
Obtain the consulting arborist report to assess trees on site 
Determine and record tree protection zones 
Document the impact of proposed development on each tree 
Identify trees that are exempt from approval requirements 
Identify and locate on the site plan trees impacted by development, according to regulations applying in the local jurisdiction 
Include trees identified by the consulting arborist report as requiring pruning or removal in a development application 
Interpret soil and growing media tests results and analyse for further testing requirements 
Record specific recommendations of remedial action for site problems 
Formulate recommendations for appropriate risk controls of site hazards 
Store and maintain survey and assessment data 
Document site information 
Incorporate all relevant data into the assessment report in accordance with client needs and the requirements of relevant legislation and regulations 
Deliver a copy of the report to the client and advise the client of content and implications of the report 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCDES503 - Assess landscape sites
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCDES503 - Assess landscape sites

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: